Whom do you suggest?

I mentioned it here, isn't this the highest authority?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If that works for you.

With the various levels and agencies of government looking into everything, I would suspect that your criticism of our government-run railroads has been duly noted, and your tax records cross-referenced--and the audit is already scheduled.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I actually had to do a bit of work near a train station recently. I know I was working because this watery stuff kept forming on my forehead. (That's a Thurston Howell joke for those of you that don't live on Gilligan's Island.)

There were a few spikes sticking up here and there and I mentioned it to a guy. He said it was rather common and was the reason they ran their maintainer over the track about once every two weeks.

Once men walked the track and pounded those things back in if they thought they needed pounding. Towards the end of the day it seemed that a lot less pounding needed to be done; the maintainer just hammers them all from the moment you put it into gear.

It seems to be working since there are far fewer trains going off the rails than there were fifty years ago.

I have a train station in town, outside of Philly proper. It's convenient I suppose but whenever you take it you have to switch to diesel vs electric at Philly then back again in NYC, which adds abot an hour to the trip. The times I've taken it, it's been overbooked. I also found flying from Philly to Hartford much cheaper than the train but now I just drive.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

If you prebook by a week or two, Philly-Hartford should be under $50 each way. They lowered the fares on the Northeast Corridor a while back. Much nicer than a scareplane or dealing with GWB traffic. With tolls and gas, about the same price.

They must have lowered it then, I distinctly remember paying upwards of $120 for 5-6 hours of cramped coughing people while a flight was about $60, and about 30mins in the air.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Been at that Reno station a number of times. The ride from Denver to SFO is just about the nicest train ride you can get in this country. Last time I took it, about 10 yrs ago it was $160 round trip. Well worth it. If it's on time you can eat dinner in the dining car while crossing the high desert of Utah. Last time it was in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. Fantastic.

I've also take the LA train that Elchivito refers to. The problem is that if you leave from Denver, Amtrak puts you on a bus to Raton NM where you pick up the train.

The last time I was on Amtrak I met a retired guy from near SFO. He'd bought a pass for less than $200 which covered both Amtrak and Canada Rail. Took Amtrak to Vancouver, Canada Rail all the way across Canada to the Maritimes I think. Then back down to Boston and was on the final leg from Boston to SFO. He'd get off the train every day, find a hotel, stay a few days and then jump back on for the next leg. He had a gps hooked up to his computer and it had tracked his travel. It's a very relaxing way to travel.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Couldn't you go Denver-SF-LA?

As far as Philly to Hartford, I'm actually on a train now, sorta bored and looked it up. Cheapest fare Monday is 62, highest is 90. Early booking lowers it to 44.

One odd thing I learned about Amtrak the last time I booked tickets was that they increase the price of the tickets based on how many inquiries they get to travel on the route/dates you put into their fare generator. The more inquiries, the higher the price. So don't keep checking on the prices.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm surprised ticket prices would rise until someone actually bought.

That is a joke. Do you have a serious answer?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thank you for politicizing the question.

(not)

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Jeez relax y'all, someone made a joke. The tracks aren't even actually government owned for the most part -- Amtrak rents them from private rail companies.

I knew a lady that would travel from Dallas to Houston on Amtrak. I think it took six hours. You can fly it in about three including all the time you have to kill at the airport.

But she liked the extra room and the views. Even thought the cost was the same she didn't care.

When she was employed she flew, but after she retired and time was no longer money she took the train every chance she got.